Florida voters spurn Obama, new health care law

March 27, 2010|By William E. Gibson, Washington Correspondent

WASHINGTON — Florida voters have turned sharply against President Barack Obama, Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson and a sweeping health care law they helped push through Congress, according to a Mason-Dixon poll released Saturday.

The statewide poll of 625 registered voters found that Obama's favorable ratings have plunged to 37 percent from 50 percent when he was elected in 2008.

Nelson's favorable ratings dropped even more dramatically, to 36 percent from 54 percent when he was re-elected in 2006.

The health care bill passed by Congress and signed by Obama was supported by only 34 percent of Floridians in the poll and opposed by 54 percent. The bill was especially unpopular among senior citizens, a big voting bloc in Florida.

The results spell trouble for Democrats in this year's elections. The findings reflect the angry and fearful mood of the electorate, particularly in growth states beset with widespread joblessness and housing foreclosures.

"It's a foul mood toward incumbents in general, but Democrats are going to take the brunt of it," said J. Brad Coker, managing director of the independent polling firm. "It could dissipate. A big turn in the economy, a drop in unemployment that gets people a little happier, would take the edge off this. But I don't think anybody is predicting that big a turnabout between now and November."

Obama and Nelson don't face the voters until 2012, giving them plenty of time to regain their political standing. White House officials predict the health care bill will gain popularity when voters become more familiar with it and recognize its benefits. The poll results indicate the Democrats will have a lot of explaining to do.

Only 25 percent of those polled who were 65 and older said they support the bill that was signed into law. Nearly two-thirds, 65 percent, said they oppose it.

"I'm a Democrat, but I'm going to vote Republican," said Arnold Ruskin, 74, of Margate, who was not polled but reflected the changing attitude of many senior citizens. "I want this [health care law] repealed. I'm not saying the Republicans are right. But I think the Democrats are just brutal on this thing. They do care about people who don't have insurance. But not a word about seniors."

Cutbacks to Medicare spending, particularly on popular plans run by HMOs, stirred fears among many patients that they would lose extra benefits, such as low premiums and dental care.

The White House points to expansion of prescription-drug coverage under Medicare and said the new law will shore up the program's finances for many years.

Nelson tried to ease concerns by pushing through an amendment that would preserve benefits for Medicare patients currently enrolled in HMO plans. A second health care bill passed by Congress last week replaced that provision with one that gradually lowers payments to these plans.

"Nelson made his deal very quietly, whereas other senators made deals that got a lot of attention," Coker said. "People were disgusted with the whole process. Nelson got caught in that too."

The sluggish economy and dismal job market – marked by a record 12.2 percent unemployment rate in Florida in February – apparently dragged down public support for other items on Obama's agenda.

In one of the poll's most striking results, 57 percent said they believe that global warming is an unproven theory. Though most scientists firmly back the idea that air pollution is bringing about climate change, only 35 percent of those polled called it a scientifically established reality.

Such perceptions will cloud attempts by Obama and fellow Democrats to push through legislation to limit emissions of greenhouse gasses.

"That stuff gets thrown out the window when the family budget is getting pinched," Coker said. "Voters are scrutinizing the whole issue again. They are looking at it from a cost basis instead of saying, ‘Gee, it would be nice if the air was cleaner.' "

The telephone poll was conducted March 23-25 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.